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Marino introduces bills to change business as usual in Washington

CONTACT: Sarah Wolf at (202) 225-3731 or sarah.wolf@mail.house.gov

May 28, 2013

Marino (PA-10) signs the Statement of Constitutional Authority and legislative text for House Joint Resolution 48, proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to limit the number of consecutive terms that a Member of Congress may serve

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 23, 2013

Washington, D.C. -- Yesterday, U.S. Representative Tom Marino (R-PA) introduced two bills, H.R. 2113, the One Subject at a Time Act, and H.J.Res. 48, proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to limit the number of consecutive terms that a Member of Congress may serve.

“Both of these bills are just common sense,” Marino said. “The American people are fed up with business as usual and it’s time we did something about it.”

“I am reintroducing my One Subject at a Time legislation from the 112th Congress, and I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to see this bill though the full legislative process,” said Marino. “People need to know how their elected officials are voting, what they are voting on, and if those officials are truly representing their needs and their voices. The best way to empower the voters and promote transparency is to have up-and-down votes on one issue at a time.”

Currently, 43 state legislatures have already adopted provisions in their constitutions containing some requirement that limits bills to one subject at a time.

H.J.Res. 48 would limit U.S. Senators to two full consecutive terms (12 years) and U.S. Representatives to six full consecutive terms (12 years). Under H.J.Res. 48, Senators and Representatives would be eligible to serve additional terms one year after completion of their last consecutive full term.

“Term limits have been something I’ve supported since I first ran for Congress three years ago because our government continues to fail the American people,” said Marino. “They remove the incentives of personal and political ambition, allowing lawmakers to focus on what’s truly important to our Republic and her people, rather than their own re-election.”

Article V of the U.S. Constitution provides that an amendment must be passed with a two-thirds majority, and then be ratified by three-fourths of the states (38 out of 50) to become part of the Constitution.